CASTLETON

VERMONT

The contingent of patriot forces now numbering over 250
soldiers consisted of:

Edward Mott and about 16 volunteers from Connecticut.

James Easton, John Brown and about 40 volunteers from the
Berkshires.

Ethan Allen, Seth Warner and about 200 Green Mountain
Boys.

The patriot forces were here to make final plans to seize
artillery and munitions from the British at Fort Ticonderoga for the defense of
Boston. On May 9th, Colonel Benedict Arnold along with his manservant came with
a commissioning from the Massachusetts Committee of Safety. He planned to use
this official document to gain control of the operation.

MARKING
THE MEETING PLACE OF
ETHAN ALLEN
AND
BENEDICT ARNOLD
ON THEIR
HISTORIC MARCH TO
FORT TICONDEROGA
MAY 9, 1775

The place of their meeting is marked near the congregational
church. There is a marker in front of a patriotically decorated home behind the
marker. The marker is on a metal plate embedded in stone and is very close to
violating a supposed Federal Law. The law forbids the etching of Arnold's name
in stone. This, of course, is due to Arnold's traitorous acts. Many believe he
felt compelled to betray America because he was completely against any alliance
with the French, an alliance that, ironically, he helped to create as a leader
and hero at the Battle of Saratoga. But without a doubt, a traitor he was — he
sought to deliver West Point to the British for 20,000 English pounds; in
Virginia, he commanded British forces against American troops he once led; and
later terrorized and burned New London, Connecticut in September, 1781.

Despite Benedict Arnold's efforts to take control of the
expedition to Fort Ticonderoga, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys clearly
made up the bulk of the forces. Allen, in his narrative, makes no mention of
Arnold’s participation in the attack.

"...directions were privately sent to me from the then
colony of Connecticut, to raise the Green Mountain Boys; with them to surprise
and take the fortress Ticonderoga. This enterprise I cheerfully undertook;
..." — Ethan Allen, 1779

Enroute
to the

Hubbardton Battlefield, VT — Highlights

There are no markers between Castleton and the
Hubbardton Battlefield, but there should be one near a waterfall about two miles
south of the battlefield. It was near here where General St. Clair and his 2,500
Americans were camping when they heard gun shots in the morning hours of July 7,
1777 that marked the beginning of the Battle of Hubbardton. They broke camp
quickly and were in Castleton just a few hours later.